Refrigerating system and apparatus



Oct. 4, 1938. K

REFRIGERATING SYSTEM AND APPARATUS Filed Aug. 9, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet lINVENTOR.

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llrrlltln 'III'I'III 'Oct. 4, 1938. G. FICK REFRIGERATI'NG SYSTEM ANDAPPARATUS Filed Aug. 9, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

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Patented Oct. 4, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Loughridge, Bogota,

N. J., trustee Application August 9, 1934, Serial No. 739,109

16 Claims.

This application relates to refrigeration systems and has for an objectcooling receptacle or evaporator in a refrigerating system withsub-cooling receptacles dependent upon the main receptacle; anotherobject of the invention is to provide a refrigerating system with a maincooling receptacle which is intermittently cooled by a mechanicalrefrigerating system and which has a cold storage capacity. withsub-cooling receptacles dependent thereon; another object of theinvention is to provide a mechanically refrigerated main coolingreceptacle which is thermostatically controlled and sub-coolingreceptacles dependent upon the main cooling receptacle, the sub-coolingreceptacle being independently controlled by a thermostat. A furtherobject of the invention is to provide a refrigerating system with anevaporator having a cooling coil connected with a circulatingrefrigerant and provided with a heat transfer me-- dium, and a secondcooling receptacle connected with the first receptacle to provide forthe flow of the heat transfer medium between said re- .ceptacles and athermostat controlling the flow of said medium. Another object is toprovide for a controlled circulation of brine between receptacles in thesame cabinet and to control this circulation by thermostatic meanswithout the use of electricity. Another object is to provide a cabinethaving a brine tank with an open top and a cooling coil depending from aremovable portion of the cabinet into the brine tank. Another object isto provide a cooling cabinet having a main door and having anindependent small door, with an evaporator in the cabinet having acompartment for ice cubes in register with the small door. Other objectsof the invention are more particularly described in the followingspecification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, selected toshow the application of the invention to electric water coolers and tohousehold refrigerators, and in which;

Fig. l is an elevation showing the invention applied to an electricwater cooler in which the casing is shown in section and part of theapparatus is sectioned;

Fig. 2 shows the application of the invention to an electric watercooler adapted for waterbottle supply, with the casing and part of theapparatus sectioned.

Fig. 2a is a modification, partly sectioned, showing the secondarycooling receptacle as may be used in Fig. 2;

Fig. 3 shows a portion of a household refrigerator with the main and thesub-cooling reto provide a main" ceptacle therein, the drawing beingpartly sectioned to show the details of construction;

Fig. 4 is an outside view of the refrigerator case used in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a plan view, looking from below, of the evaporator used inFig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a form of valve shown in cross-section that may be operated bya thermostat for controlling the heat transfer medium;

Fig. 7 is a modification, partly sectioned, showing the use of aseparate coil for the heat transfer medium.

This invention is applied to the small unit refrigerator having a highside or compressor mechanism and a low side or evaporator common tothese machines.

The present invention is embodied in these refrigeration systems byproviding in the evaporator a heat transfer medium which absorbs therefrigeration from the cooling coil andwhich can flow to a sub-coolingreceptacle and be controlled by a thermostat. The evaporator may beconstructed to freeze water in trays, generally known as ice cube trays,and in this way provide considerable cold storage for the heat transfermedium in the evaporator and stabilize the refrigeration in a mechanismwhichis operating intermittently. The sub-cooling receptacles may belocated in the casing at points best adapted to distribute therefrigeration.

One particular use of the invention is to provide an evaporator with icecube trays and with a cooling medium of a liquid character generallyreferred to as brine, and a second receptacle provided with connectionsfor the circulation of the brine between the receptacles. The secondreceptacle is provided with a water chamber, or a water coil, connectedwith a suitable supply so that the machine in one compartment providesice cubes andin the second compartment provides drinking water cooled toa suitable temperature. The evaporator is provided with a thermostatwhich controls the circulation of the refrigerant and the making of theice cubes, and the second receptacle is provided with a thermostat whichcontrols the flow of the heat transfer medium between the receptacles.By reason of the independent operationof the thermostats it is apparentthat the main receptacle may be cooled to a temperature considerablybelow the freezing point of water and the second receptacle may bemaintained at a temperature above the freezing point of water so thatthe water supply cannot freeze in the system, at the same time thereserve cold storage in the ice cubes, through the heat transfer medium,is available to maintain the water at a low temperature as it is drawnof! for use. This mechanism, constituting the low side" is placed withina heat insulated chamber.

In the drawings II is a heat insulated housing which, in Fig. 1, has acooling chamber a and a compressor chamber 1). The compressor chambercontains the compressor l6 operated by the electric motor l1 through thebelt l8. The refrigerant is circulated from the compressor through pipel8, condenser 28, pipe 2|, expansion valve 22, cooling coil 23 inevaporator 24, and pipe back to compressor. The evaporator 24 isprovided with an inner chamber 25 in which the ice cube trays 21 arelocated, also the thermostat 28 is located in the evaporator and by pipe29 connected to the control box 38 which controls the circuit of themotor I1 through the connection 3|. This apparatus, or its equivalent,is to be found in the common refrigerator, and usually varies with thekind of refrigerant in the system; for instance, the cooling coil 23 maybe a chamber in which the refrigerant expands, but is convenientlyreferred to as a cooling coil. The thermostat 28 is shown as locatedinside the evaporator, but this device may be located outside theevaporator and attached to,

or remote from, the evaporator. In the construction in Fig. 3, where thecover with the high side is removed from the evaporator, it is necessaryto locate the thermostat, or make its connection 28, detachable from theevaporator so that the high side may be removed by itself.

Pipe 32 is connected to a suitable water supply which may be filtered bythe filter 33 and by pipe 34 connects to coil 35 in the second coolingchamber 31, the end of coil 35 being connected with a draw-ofi valve at38.

The secondary cooling receptacle 31 is placed below the main coolingreceptacle 24 and is connected therewith by the pipe 38 leading from thebottom of 24 to the bottom of 31, and a return pipe is provided at 38leading from the top of 31 to the top of 24. A valve 48 is provided inthe return connection 39, this valve being connected with the thermostat4| located in 31, by the connection 42. The evaporator 24 is filled witha heat transfer medium usually referred to as brine, but may be anynon-freezing, noncorrosive fluid that will flow under temperaturedifferences and that can be controlled. The major cooling occurs inevaporator 24 and the brine or cooling medium tends to circulate fromthe higher receptacle to the lower receptacle by thermo-syphonic action.The extent of this circulation is controlled by the thermostatassociated with the secondary cooling receptacle. This thermostat may beadjusted to stop the circulation at a temperature that will make thewater in coil 35 suitable for beverage purposes. As long as theevaporator 24 is at a lower temperature than receptacle 31, the brinewill act to transfer refrigeration from 24 to 31, and thus the coldstored in the ice cubes in the evaporator can be drawn upon to cool thewater coil 35 independently of the operation of the mechanism. Theindependent thermostatic control of 31 makes it possible to provide icecubes in the evaporator and, at the same time, prevents the water in 35being frozen. It will be noted that the primary cooling receptacle 24and the secondary cooling receptacle 31 are located in the heatinsulated chamber a and the control of the refrigeration to 31 isentirely within this chamber.

The construction in Fig. 2 is modified from Fig. 1, by the use of awater bottle supply, instead of the city water mains. The bottle H ismounted on the rubber collar 52 on top of the box and discharges intothe centrally located tank 53 which connects by pipe 54 to the watercoil 35 in receptacle 31. In this construction the ice trays 21 areplaced in a horizontal row in the evaporator and the cooling coil 23 isplaced above the ice trays.

In the modification in Fig. 2a, the coil 35 is replaced by the tank 55placed inside 31. This provides a larger water capacity than the coilconstruction.

- The control valve 48, Fig. 6 comprises the diaphragm 52 enclosed bythe covers 63 and 84, the pipe 42 connects to 83 so that when thepressure in the thermostatic bulb 4! increases, due to an increase intemperature, pressure is applied above diaphragm 82 and against spring88 to lower the stem 51 and unseat the valve 58, thereby opening thepassage through the valve proportional to the pressure of the volatilemedium in the thermostat. The covers 53 and 54 are supported by thestandards 5|, the stem is provided with a stuffing box at 58 and thetension of spring 88 is adjusted by the collar 58. This valve ispreferably placed in the return connection between the main coolingreceptacle and the sub-cooling receptacle as the delivery line is liableto be covered with frost.

In Fig. 3 a pair of sub-cooling receptacles are connected with theevaporator, each controlled by an independent thermostat and manualmeans are provided for regulating the operation of each sub-coolingunit; In this construction the cover of the evaporator is removable withthe cooling coil while the rest of the apparatus remains fixed in thechamber.

The housing II is provided with a removable cover i2 and with a door I3having spring hinges at 14 to keep this door normally closed. Theaperture for the main door is shown at 15 which provides access to theinterior.

In the construction shown, the mechanism 11 for circulating therefrigerant is placed upon the cover 12 and the circulating pipes 2| and22 depend therefrom through the cover 12 which protects the housing 12to the cooling coil 14 located in the evaporator 15, above thecompartment 82 for the ice cube trays 8|. The part 14 is usuallyreferred to as a cooling coil although it may take different forms. Theedge of the evaporator is formed in a flange 18 which is clamped againstthe ring 13 of the cover through a gasket 11. One form of clampcomprises the angle brace 15 which may be secured by the bolts 18, Fig.5 to the right and left of the front. By this construction the cover I2, or a portion of the casing opposite 13, may be removed with thecooling coil 14 after bolts 19 are removed, and replaced again withoutdisturbing the remainder of the low side. It will be noted that there ispractically no pressure in 15, the main purpose of the gasket is toprevent evaporation of the heat transfer medium in 15.

When the brace 18 is removed, the evaporator 15 is supported by thepipes 38 and 39. The compartment 82 also has connection with the housingleading to door 13, not shown in the drawings.

A sub-cooling receptacle 83 is provided at one side of the case and acorresponding sub-cooling receptacle 84 is provided on the oppositeside. These receptacles are connected with the evaporator by theconnections 38 and 39 and the connection 39 is controlled by valve 40.This valve for receptacle 83 is controlled by thermostat 85 and forreceptacle 84 is controlled by thermostat 86 and the delivery connectionfor 83 is controlled manually by valve 81 and the delivery connectionfor 84 is controlled manually by valve 88. By adjusting the thermostats8 5 and 88 to operate at different temperatures and by adjusting thevalves 81 and 88 it is possible to obtain different cooling conditionson each side of the box, as might be desirable where different classesof material are located on each side. A wire shield or screen 89 may beprovided as indicated to protect the sub-cooling units 83 and 81. Itshould be understood, although not shown in the drawings that thesesub-receptacles are suitably secured to the wall of the housing.

The cover or small door I3, Fig. 4, is arranged to register with thechamber 82 for the ice cube trays, so that the trays may be removed andreplaced without opening the main door. This door is provided withspring hinges at ll giving it a bias to holdit normally closed. Thisretains the cold air around the evaporator in the upper part of the casewhile the ice cube trays can be freely removed from the case or housingwithout opening the main door at ii. In this arrangement, it will benoted that the major cooling effect is produced in the upper centralportion of the casing and the sub-cooling is distributed at the sides,this tends to produce a uniform chilling of the lower part of thecasing.

In the arrangement in Fig. 7, the heat transfer between the evaporatorand the sub-cooling unit is obtained by the coil 92 placed below thecube compartment 82 and connecting by the pipes 94 and 95 with the coil93, surrounding the tank 55 in receptacle 31. The control valve 40 isprovided in pipe 95. A suitable heat transfer medium is placed in coil92 which circulates through coil 93 in brine tank 31 and thereby chillsthe water in tank 55.

The invention admits of a variety of applications in addition to thoseshown in the drawings and may be used completely as shown, or itsintegral parts may be used separately with other apparatus.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A refrigerating system comprising a cabinet with a single'chamberhaving a main cooling receptacle with a cooling coil therein and meansfor circulating a refrigerant through said coil, a heat transfer mediumin said main receptacle, a thermostat controlling the operation of saidcirculating means, an independent sub-cooling receptacle spaced from themain receptacle, means connecting said receptacles and providing for theflow of said heat transfer medium between said receptacles and athermostat controlling such flow, said sub-receptacle, connections andther mostat located in said chamber.

2. A refrigerating system comprising a single chamber having a maincooling receptacle with a cooling coil and a heat transfer mediumtherein, means for circulating a refrigerant through said coil, athermostat associated with said main cooling receptacle controlling theoperation of said means, a sub-cooling receptacle in said chamber spacedfrom said main receptacle, a pipe with a valve operated by fluidpressure connecting said receptacles and providing for the flow of theheat transfer medium between said receptacles and a thermostat supplyingfluid pressure for operating said valve associated with said subcoolingreceptacle.

p 3'. A refrigerating system comprising a cabinet with a single'chamberhaving a main cooling receptaclei with a cooling coil and a. heattransfer medium therein, means for circulating a refrigerant throughsaid coil, athermostat associated cooling receptacle "supplying fluidpressure for operating said valve.

4. A refrigerating system comprising a cabinet with a singlechamberhaving a maincooling receptacle with a cooling coil and a heattransfer medium therein, means for circulating a refrigerant throughsaid coil, a thermostat controlling the operation of said means, a pairof sub-cooling receptacles spaced from said main receptacle in saidchamber, means connecting said main receptacle with said sub-receptaclesproviding for the flow of said heat transfer medium between saidreceptacles and a thermostat associated with each sub-receptacleindependently controlling such flow between each sub-receptacle and themain receptacle.

5. A refrigerating system comprising a cabinet with a single chamberhaving a main cooling receptacle with a cooling coil and a heat transfermedium therein, means for circulating a refrigerant through said cell, athermostat controlling the operation of said means, a sub-coolingreceptacle in said chamber spaced from said main receptacle, meansconnecting said main receptacle with said sub-cooling receptacle andprocooling receptacle and providing for the flow of I brine between saidreceptacles, means controlling the flow of said brine manually andthermostatically operated means within said chamber controlling saidflow.

'7. A refrigerating system comprising a single chamber with a maincooling receptacle having a cooling coil and a heat transfer mediumtherein, means for circulating a refrigerant through said coil, athermostat controlling the operation of said means, a sub-coolingreceptacle in said chamber spaced from said main receptacle, a pipeconnecting said main receptacle to said sub-re ceptacle and a secondpipe connecting said subreceptacle to said main receptacle for thereturn flow of said medium from said sub-receptacle to said mainreceptacle, a valve in said second pipe and thermostatic meanscontrolling said valve, said pipes, valve and thermostat being locatedwithin said chamber.

8. A refrigerator system comprising a single chamber having a maincooling receptacle with a cooling coil and a heat transfer mediumtherein, means for circulating a refrigerant through said coil, athermostat controlling the operation of said means, an independentsub-cooling receptacle, spaced from and located on a lower level in saidchamber, than said main receptacle, a connection including a valve forsaid receptacles providing for the flow of said medium between saidreceptacles and a thermostat associated with said sub-cooling receptacledirectly controlling said valve.

9. In a refrigerator, the combination of, a chamber, an evaporatorcasing located at the top of said chamber, a removable cooling coilinserted in said evaporator casing from the top, means for circulating arefrigerant in said coil and a thermostat controlling the operation ofsaid means, and a sub-cooling receptacle operatively connected with saidevaporator casing but not with said cooling coil and located at the sideof said chamber.

10. In a refrigerator, the combination oi, a cabinet, an evaporatorlocated at the top of the cabinet and comprising a brine tank, meanstherein for forming ice cubes and a cooling coil arranged in said tank,means for circulating a refrigerant in said coil, a thermostatcontrolling the operation of said means, a pair of sub-coolingreceptacles located below and one to each side of said evaporator, pipesconnecting said subcooling receptacles with said evaporator for thecirculation of brine between said tank and said receptacles, a valve ineach of said circulating pipes and thermostatic means in saidreceptacles controlling the operation of said valves.

11. In a refrigerator, the combination of, a chamber having a main dooropening in the wall thereof providing access to the interior, anevaporator comprising a cooling coil and a heat transfer medium, formaking ice cubes, located at the top of the cabinet and above the maindoor opening, means for circulating a refrigerant in said coil, athermostat controlling the operation of said means, an independentsub-cooling receptacle located in said chamber below said evaporator,means operatively connecting said sub-cooling receptacle with saidevaporator, but not with said cooling coil, whereby said receptacle iscooled from said evaporator and a second door opening in the tering withthe ice wail of said cabinet regiscube compartment of said evaporatorwhereby the ice cubes are made available independently of the main dooropening.

12. A refrigerator system comprising a compartment having a coolingreceptacle with a hollow chamber therein forming the housing of anevaporator, a removable cover for said receptacle, means for supportingsaid receptacle in said compartment independently of the removablecover, a cooling coil depending from said cover into said hollowchamber, a heat transfer medium in said hollow chamber, means forcirculating a refrigerant in said coil, a thermostat controlling theoperation of said means and means for securing said chamber to saidcover to form a closure.

13. A refrigerator comprising a housing having a removable cover, ahollow chamber in said housing forming part of an evaporator, means forsupporting said chamber in said housing independently of the removablecover, a cooling coil supported by said cover in said hollow chamber andbeing removable with said cover and means for circulating a refrigerantin said coil.

14. A refrigerator comprising a housing having a removable wall portion,an annular member having a flange secured to said wall portion, acooling coil removable with said wall portion, means for circulating arefrigerant in said coil, and a casing in said housing supportedindependently of said removable wall portion and registering with saidannular member to form an enclosure for said coil.

15. A refrigerator comprising a housing having a removable wall portion,an annular member with a flange secured against said wall portion, acooling coil supported in said housing by said removable wall portion,means for circulating a refrigerant in said coil and a chamber in saidhousing open at the top to receive said cooling coil and secured to saidflange to form therewith a closure and a heat exchange medium in saidchamber.

16. A refrigerator comprising a housing having a removable wall portion,an annular member with a flange secured against said wall portion, acooling coil supported in said housing by said removable wall portion,means for circulating a refrigerant in said coil, a chamber forenclosing said coil and means for clamping said chamber to said flange.

GEORGE PICK.

